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John Rezai was an investment banker on Wall Street, participating in some of the nation's largest public offerings including Google. After losing his job in 2008, he and his wife Jennifer, a CPA, decided to buy an existing business in Fort Lauderdale.
Craig Glover's employer moved to Kentucky, but his family wanted to remain in South Florida. So Glover and his novelist wife Bonnie bought a franchise in Broward County.
Sharon Gadbois was let go in 2009 from her job at a sports nutrition firm in Palm Beach County. A graduate of the Fort Lauderdale Art Institute, she took her web design and social media skills and created her own job.
With nearly 12 percent unemployment, over 1 million Floridians are hunting for a job. But a growing number of workers are trying a different approach: self-employment. More people launched businesses in 2009 than any time in the past 14 years, according to Kauffman Foundation, an entrepreneurship research organization.
Workers who decide to employ themselves generally have three options: buy an existing business, invest in a franchise, or start a business. The best choice depends on several factors.
"What do they want the business to do for them?" is the primary question people should ask themselves, said Brian Miller, president of The Entrepreneur's Source, an organization that matches people with franchises. Some potential franchisees are looking for regular income from the business while others are more concerned about building retirement income or leaving a legacy for their children.
For the unemployed who decide to go into business, startup money is often the biggest stumbling block. People once tapped their home equity, but that's hard to come by in South Florida's overly leveraged housing market. Instead, some workers are drawing on their 401(k) retirement funds to buy a franchise or business. Others are starting a low-cost venture, often a technology-based home business.
The costs can be as little as a few hundred dollars to start a computer-based business to several hundred thousand for a brand-name franchise. Here are some things to think about for each self-employment option:
Option 1: Buy an existing business
For anyone who wants to buy a business, there are deals to be had in this economy. The advantage of an existing business is "the cash register is ringing from day one," said Andy Cagnetta, founder of Transworld Business Brokers in Fort Lauderdale. "People's habits die very hard. If a dry cleaner is around corner, people are used to going to that dry cleaner or doctor's practice or gym."
Former investment banker John Rezai and his wife Jennifer worked with Transworld to buy an existing business after John was laid off in late 2008. "I went through the process of 'what do I want? What are we going to do next?'…. My wife and I knew it would involve a bit of a reinvention. Once we accepted that fact, the world was our oyster," Rezai said.
They decided to buy a business in Florida, where they had often spent vacations. "We wanted to be together as a family. And we wanted that independence that comes with owning a business," Rezai said.
The couple enlisted Transworld to help them find the right business. Fort Lauderdale Ice, which provides ice to restaurants, was being sold by its founder who had been in the business for 35 years and it had regular customers in the restaurant business. "We wanted to buy that stream of cash flow," Rezai said.
In buying an existing business, it's important to "understand what you're buying," Rezai said. With expertise in valuations, he was able to look at the business and related perks, such as health insurance, and analyze its real value and cash flow. "We did our homework and we haven't been surprised by too many things," Rezai said.
The Resais didn't have to seek startup funding, which is difficult for many in the current economic environment, because they were able to pay cash for the business. There also was no fee from Transworld because the seller pays the broker's fee, not the buyer.
The couple, who have been operating Fort Lauderdale Ice since April, says Transworld broker Thomas Jones was critical to closing the sale with the former owner. "It's his baby. He doesn't want it to go into the wrong hands after spending 35 years on it," Renzai said. "The broker plays the role of intermediary."
Option 2: Buy a franchise
People who buy a franchise gain the advantages of a support system that can include a roadmap and training from the franchisor and advice from other franchisees.
Craig and Bonnie Glover of Pembroke Pines decided to buy a home-based franchise, HOODZ kitchen exhaust cleaning business, after Craig's employer moved out of state. With two teenagers in high school, the Glovers decided it was not a good time to move. "We wanted to have more time as a family, to leave a legacy for our kids, and to be more actively involved in the community," Craig Glover said.


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The “vast extent” of Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan LLP’s improper disclosures of a confidential expert report and breaches to a protective order in a smartphone patent and trade battle between Apple Inc. and Samsung Electronics Co. call for an official reprimand, the International Trade Commission said Tuesday.
Takeda Pharmaceuticals USA Inc. and hedge funds that invested in it asked the D.C. Circuit Monday to reconsider its dismissal of their suit alleging the Food and Drug Administration violated patent protections when it approved a competing gout drug made by West-Ward Pharmaceuticals Corp., saying the decision turns Hatch-Waxman litigation on its head.
A federal judge ruled Tuesday that a Washington company that decontaminates former methamphetamine labs couldn’t claim trademark rights to “Meth Lab Cleanup,” declaring the phrase generic.
The U.S. International Trade Commission has elected not to ask the U.S. Supreme Court to review a Federal Circuit decision that the ITC lacks the authority to block imports of digital files, the accused infringer in the closely watched patent case, ClearCorrect LLC, said Wednesday.
BMW North America and Mercedes-Benz were each smacked with infringement suits Wednesday in Texas federal court by Digital Stream IP LLC, which accuses the automakers of using patented digital satellite radio technology without authorization.
Iconic pop star Darlene Love has dropped an unusual lawsuit that claimed cable network HGTV violated her publicity rights — but not her copyrights — by using her 1960s Christmas tune in an advertisement without permission.
The Federal Circuit on Wednesday revived a patent for a molasses byproduct used as a de-icing agent on roads, finding that the Patent Trial and Appeal Board didn’t present enough evidence to show that earlier sugar and rock salt-related inventions made the sugar-waste product obvious.
The company behind Francis Ford Coppola’s line of wines filed a trademark infringement lawsuit Tuesday claiming a smaller winemaker is selling a “Copa” brand in near-identical packaging.
A specialty gases supplier that got part of a patent invalidated then challenged it again on different grounds cannot pursue a new America Invents Act review, because the company did not do a “diligent” prior-art search the first time, the Patent Trial and Appeal Board has ruled.
Following the European Commission's finding that Apple owes €13 billion ($14.5 billion) in back taxes to Ireland, former U.S. Sen. Carl Levin denounced both Apple and the Internal Revenue Service, saying Tuesday that the revenue agency has let the software giant get away with avoiding taxes on American soil.
VLP Law Group LLP has added an intellectual property litigator previously with Hogan Lovells as a partner in its Silicon Valley office, the firm has announced.
A Texas federal judge on Tuesday ordered three groups of alleged hackers to pay $5 million to Sprint over claims they cracked its computer networks, erased electronic serial numbers from 3 million Sprint cellphones later sold to major retailers and infringed Sprint’s trademarks.
Toyota Motor Corp. asked a Massachusetts federal judge on Wednesday for a quick win in a trademark infringement suit against a local wedding photography company called Lexus Studios Inc., arguing that there is no real dispute that the studio was trying to associate its own brand with the luxury car company.
Cisco Systems Inc. has filed a complaint with the U.S. International Trade Commission against rival tech firm Arista Networks Inc., accusing it of violating a cease-and-desist order issued in a patent infringement suit decided earlier this year.
Canon Inc. asked a California federal judge to toss Technology Properties Ltd. LLC's memory card reader patent infringement case, arguing at a hearing Tuesday that its products don't contain the technology described in the court's claim limitations and that prior art would render TPL's broad interpretation of those claims invalid.
A New York federal judge on Monday granted Jay Z $8,000 in attorneys’ fees in a lawsuit filed by an artist who claims to have helped create the logo for Roc-A-Fella Records, after the plaintiff and his attorney were sanctioned in December for failing to produce discoverable evidence.
The Patent Trial and Appeal Board agreed Tuesday to institute America Invents Act inter partes reviews of two semiconductor circuitry patents, finding that petitioner Samsung has demonstrated that the asserted claims are likely unpatentable.
Stanford University and a student group beat Theta Chi Fraternity Inc.’s trademark infringement suit over the group’s use of a play on Theta Chi’s name Tuesday when a California federal judge ruled that the fraternity’s lack of popularity meant its mark wasn’t necessarily famous.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday approved Sandoz Inc.’s biosimilar for Amgen Inc.’s immunosuppressant Enbrel to treat certain types of arthritis and psoriasis, bringing the number of biosimilars the agency has approved to three.
The Federal Circuit on Monday denied a petition for en banc review brought by an engineer who unsuccessfully sued Shell Oil Co. for patent infringement over a process for producing benzene.
Healthbox Global Partners LLC on Monday dropped its trademark lawsuit against Under Armour Inc. that alleged the outerwear company's new electronic fitness tracker infringed on the health care consulting company’s “Healthbox” mark.
In the constant struggle to find valuable patents more efficiently in patent evaluation, different patent metrics are considered, discussed, re-evaluated and occasionally benchmarked. We have benchmarked the value of forward citations — the metric that seems to be mentioned the most — using data from our evaluation of thousands of patents and from public sources on U.S. patent litigation, says Goran Grbic of Chipworks Inc.
The tension between practicing law and managing the firm is giving way to the realization that the latter had been largely overlooked, meagerly funded, and often underappreciated, says Dr. James Bailey, a professor at George Washington University School of Business and the keynote speaker at the Legal Marketing Association Southeast conference in September.
The Texas Uniform Trade Secrets Act has made it easier to bring trade secret actions and provided certainty to misappropriation claims. With the fall in oil prices, firms are using this as another tool toward warding off declining revenues, says Paul Morico, co-chairman of the energy IP practice group at Baker Botts LLP.
Patent owners are still struggling with how to present objective evidence of nonobviousness to the Patent Trial and Appeal Board that is sufficiently persuasive. We can learn from the few successful attempts, say Kerry Flynn, chief IP counsel for Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc., and Stacy Lewis and Tom Irving of Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunner LLP.
A recent Law360 guest article asks whether by signing a mediation confidentiality agreement a lawyer surrenders the power to protect his client against inappropriate mediation conduct. The short response to this concern is that parties to a mediation should refuse to execute such an agreement that removes all future recourse against the mediator, no matter how egregious the mediator’s actions, says William Ruskin of Gordon Rees Scu... (continued)
Litigation in the Texas energy sector has increased substantially as a result of the drop in oil prices. The trends reflect a market reality where all participants, including contractors, insurers, lenders, partners and employees, are forced to embrace “lower for longer” pricing, say Michael Hurst and Jonathan Childers of Lynn Pinker Cox Hurst LLP.
The bottom line to any patent search technique is staying efficient yet effective. Keyword searches were once the only technique available to help lawyers advise their clients’ business decisions. Today, semantic analysis, classification codes and text-clustering provide many crucial advantages, says Jennifer Gallagher of Innography Inc.
As technology has advanced, the ways in which attorneys communicate with clients, potential clients, former clients and the public has created new and ill-defined issues relating to whether an attorney-client relationship exists. Attorneys Elizabeth Fitch and Theodore Schaer discuss the often nebulous yet hazardous concepts that could lead to malpractice issues.
Some market watchers believe that law firms with significant energy-related practices have experienced precipitous declines in revenue and profits due to the dip in oil prices. Yet, firms continue to be bullish on Texas, and those still looking for a point of entry will jump at the right opportunity, say consultants with LawVision Group LLC.
Because marijuana is still classified as an illegal substance under the federal Controlled Substances Act, protecting trademarks for marijuana-related goods and services is complicated at best — and sometimes impossible, says Tanya Curcio of Vorys Sater Seymour and Pease LLP.

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Don't miss tomorrow night's episode of The Living Room when hosts Chris Brown and Miguel Maestre head to Canada to experience the Rocky Mountaineer.
Rocky Mountaineer, a world leader in luxury rail travel, announced today the official launch of its new integrated brand marketing campaign, All Aboard Amazing.
SilverRail has developed an infographic to highlight the five standards that it believes the industry must follow to enable rail to realise its full potential.
France Rail Pass and France-Spain High Speed have shared that new developments and improvements are underway to further enhance the traveller's experience.
Rail Plus is going wild in 2016 by unleashing grizzlies, polar bears and beluga whales in the second edition of its Canada Sales Manual.
Tourico Holidays has announced a 300% year-over-year increase in gross revenue from its car rental business, driven by its global network of direct connect partnerships.
Rail Plus is now offering a range of independent rail packages across the US combining Amtrak's iconic journeys with top-quality hotels, tours, and meals.
Time is running out for travel agents to complete Rail Plus’ new Eurostar Ambassador program and go in the running to share in $1000 worth of gift cards.
The new ANA and Lexus Connection offers smooth connections in comfort between terminals at Haneda Airport
After 200 years of rail dominance, here is the new bus map of France.
Over one in three (36%) US car rental drivers skim read the rental company's terms and conditions saying they don’t feel they have the time to read them properly. Only 19% read them in full.
SilverRail Technologies, the transformational technology business dedicated to supporting train companies to attract, interact and transact with their customers
Plymouth & Brockton Street Railway Company, a family-owned and operated transportation company that has served the region for more than 125 years, is now offering visitors a
Switzerland Tourism’s recently launched product experience, The Grand Train Tour of Switzerland, features a series of unbeatable panoramic train journeys around the country
Airtrain passengers can now benefit from a super speedy and smooth transit at the Brisbane Airport (Domestic) train station following the installation of four wide berth go card gates
legendary Venice Simplon-Orient-Express embarks on a new journey to Berlin taking guests on a fascinating journey through time. In the tradition of the first pioneering days of rail travel, this new...
Jayride, an award-winning transportation booking platform, announced today its official U.S. launch
Rail Europe GSAs announce Spain expansion
Travelport becomes the first company to offer a new industry solution for airport express services.
The summer sale promotion runs until January 30, 2015 in selected locations across Australia, New Zealand, Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America.


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Tim Sweeney is not against the Epic Games Store (EGS) releasing games created with the help of artificial intelligence. This was stated by the head of Epic Games in a comment to the developer’s tweet, who complained about the Steam rules.
In his tweet, the developer shared the story of how Steam removed the game due to the use of ChatGPT in it. In response, Sweeney advised to publish the project in EGS and stated that his platform does not prohibit working with new technologies.
Steam has already refused to publish games with generated AI content, referring to “legal uncertainty” in the field of copyright. Sweeney admits that AI can cause copyright issues, since it learns from billions of other people’s works. But if we follow this logic, the head of Epic Games notes, then claims can be made against both human artists and other creators whose works are derived from everything they have ever seen.
Sweeney added that everything he wrote was solely his thoughts. Epic Games does not use the content posted in EGS and other services of the company to train generative AI.


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BENGALURU (Reuters) -- Adani Enterprises, the flagship company of India's ports-to-energy conglomerate Adani Group, said it will use the proceeds of its mega $2.5 billion follow-on public offering (FPO) for capital expenditure and to pay off debt at its units.
The company, led by billionaire Gautam Adani, said it will use 108.69 billion rupees from the total 200 billion rupees FPO, the country's largest ever, to fund green hydrogen projects, airports facilities and greenfield expressways.
It will use 41.65 billion rupees to repay the borrowings of three of its units, Adani Airport Holdings, Adani Road Transport, and Mundra Solar, the company said in its prospectus.
Adani Enterprises, whose shares closed at 3,596.70 rupees on Wednesday, said the bidding for anchor investors will begin on Jan. 25 and ends on Jan. 31.
It approved a floor price of 3,112 rupees per share for the offer, with a price cap of 3,276 rupees for all categories of investors and a discount of 64 rupees for the retail segment.
Bidders will have to pay 50% of the offer price and the balance in one or more tranches decided by the board or a committee, the company said in a separate statement.
Adani Enterprises might offer a 10% discount to large investors, Bloomberg News reported.
The proposed fundraise comes as Adani Group aggressively expands into sectors such as cement and healthcare, amid some concerns about its elevated debt levels and large promoter shareholding.
The Group has made acquisitions worth $13.8 billion in 2022, as per Dealogic data, its highest ever in a year and more than double the previous year.
In September, Adani said his company would invest more than $100 billion over the next decade, with 70% earmarked for the energy transition space.
Adani Enterprises' stock surged nearly 130% in 2022 but has dipped about 7% so far this year.


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Happy birthday Matthew! Congrats on getting just a little bit older!
We kick off this week talking about Spiral’s location-based status updates, how the NSA killed Syria’s internet, Yo, Amazon’s competing Square card swiper, Samsung’s new Galaxy Alpha that looks very similar to Apple’s iPhone, females getting into computer science, turning off your read receipts, the FAA killing AirPooler, and Elio Motors cheap and efficient 3-wheel vehicles.
Matthew reviewed all the news that happened in 2013 and compare it to our predictions.
We discuss news about Apple, Facebook, Google, Blackberry, Microsoft, 4k TVs, Tesla, Dell, Twitter, Xbox, Play Station, Nintendo, Steam, SimCity and a little bit about security. We graded ourselves an A- for our predictions. In the 3rd hour of the show (yes!) we got down to our 2014 predictions. There will be a cut with just this part of the show.
Like most technology, the really innovate ones tend to test the bounds of your privacy. This week is no different with the revelation that the NSA is watching you thought some slick tech. Don’t be scared, we got your back.
We also talk about Bell Lab’s new camera, the WiSee wi-fi sensor, Whistle for your pet, Feedly’s latest improvements, a Rickroll on Vine, and Google Glass privacy concerns.


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Fleio version 2021.06.1 was released today, 16th of June. The latest version is marked as stable and can be used in production environment (read more about our release model here).Continue reading
Fleio version 2020.03 is now available! The latest version was published today, 2020-03-10.Continue reading
Fleio version 2019.06 is now available! The latest version enables you to secure the end-user and staff user accounts with two-factor authentication, clients can create volume backups and some new customization options are now available.Continue reading
We have just released Fleio version 2019.05. Read on to see what’s new.Continue reading
Fleio version 2019.04 is now available.
Just like every month, we’re adding features and improvements to Fleio – OpenStack billing and control panel for public cloud service providers. Read on for the major features in 2019.04.Continue reading
We have just released Fleio version 2019.03. Read on and see what’s new.
Fleio – OpenStack billing and control panel for service providers – version 2019.02 is now available.
Some of the new features are unique to Fleio and not present in OpenStack Horizon:
We have just released Fleio 2019.01.


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Tesla Builds Battery FactoryJune 26, 2020
Such a step will become strategic for the company, since it is the batteries that are the most expensive element of electric machines.
American manufacturer of American cars Tesla decided to build a new plant in California. He will specialize in the production of batteries for electric cars. This became known on Thursday, June 25. The company will be built in California. It is already known that after the start of production, the plant will work around the clock.
At the moment, at Tesla’s Fremont plant, batteries are produced in very small batches, but this cannot meet the needs of the company. The issue of increasing battery production was especially acute after the launch of Model Y production, as well as preparations for the launch of the Cybertruck pickup truck. To date, Tesla has applied for permission to build a plant in the selected area.
After approval from the city authorities, Tesla will need only 3 months. Tesla will provide jobs for 470 people, and 400 will work in shift mode.
Meanwhile, Tesla took the last time in the ranking of quality cars. The list was compiled by a reputable agency. The manufacturer of electric cars was the last due to defects in the assembly that occurred recently.
- Tesla wants to license its autopilot software
- Rimac said he would do with the purchased Bugatti
- The queue for the Toyota Land Cruiser stretches for 4 years
- Mazda patented eight new brands
- 2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 to officially debut on October 26


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Lots of things going down in the crypto world this week, with Telegram fighting to keep their project alive and a whole lot of other stuff.
UPbit Ether Loss
Ethereum is having a bad day as crypto exchange Upbit has confirmed the theft of $50M worth of ether. As reported yesterday, $50M was sent from Upbit’s wallet to an unknown Ethereum address and apart from the abnormal ether outflow was the exchange moving cryptos from hot to cold wallets to prevent further losses, 10 transactions is all it took to cause so much damage, at least 340K ether has been declared stolen.
The South Korean exchange said the loss will be covered by their own assets and they suspended withdrawals and deposits for the meantime as they are trying to fix up their servers, it’ll take a couple of weeks before things get back to normal.
Crypto ATM provider Bitstop has been rolling out new ATM machines in Simon group locations for the past few weeks. They’ve done that in the group’s California, Georgia, Miami and Florida locations, the aim is to expose first-time bitcoiners to the booming crypto market and help people who shop in the malls to understand blockchain tech and crypto better.
Co-founder Andrew Barnard says Bitstop will continue to build out exposure and handhold newcomers through the process of buying their first Bitcoin. Generally, Bitstop’s project is a good one as it demonstrates a wide variety of use cases. Placing the ATMs in malls this time of the year puts Bitstop in a really good position as people tend to shop more and these shoppers will be enthused to know how the ATMs work. Malls and businesses around the world are beginning to adopt crypto ATMs. There are over 6K crypto ATMs in the world right now.
The Ghana Digital Currency Project
In other news Ghana central bank chief has announced the country’s intention to release digital currency in the “near future”. Yesterday, the governor of the country’s central bank Ernest Addison announced the intention to release the digital form of the cedi at the country’s annual banking conference; he also said that the country is undergoing rapid digitization as the use of “mobile money” has increased to about 70% in the past year.
He says his mobile money will be different from crypto, adding that it is just going to be a digital representation of the Cedi. So many other countries like China, the EU are looking into launching their cryptocurrencies.
What the Securities and Exchange Commission are Saying About Telegram
We’ve been following the SEC case regarding the Gram token closely and the judge just ordered the founder to testify in the case, the SEC is accusing Telegram for of selling unregistered securities, CEO Pavel Durov, Vice president Ilya Perekopsky and Shyam Parekh have been called up to testify.
Despite raising $1.7 billion in early 2018 to develop the TON blockchain and its associated GRAM token, Telegram has been publicly silent about its involvement in TON up until this point.


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WATCH: Sassa Gurl Shows Us How to Achieve Her Signature "Hotdog" Blush|Read more »
Tag: japanese designers
You can practice social distancing and not miss a second of style.
The COVID-19 outbreak has postponed or cancelled a slew of global events—and even the upcoming Rakuten Fashion Week Tokyo, Japan's biggest style showcase, hasn't been spared. The good news, though, is that its organizers have found a brilliant solution: Starting March 16,
See Mihara Yasuhiro's entire Bench Fashion Week 2019 collection here.
"Sublime meets ridiculous," Mihara Yasuhiro quips when asked about the look of his collection for Bench Fashion Week 2019. The renowned fashion designer, beloved by top-tier Japanese stars like Arashi and Shun Oguri, further explains: "The theme is 'justified error.' Nowadays, technology is getting very advanced.
Here's a peek into her most cherished collection.
Monika Abad isn't someone you'll easily forget meeting at a party. More than her cheerful and kind disposition, she also has killer style that never fails to catch the room's attention. She can effortlessly make you appreciate non-color as well as the Japanese


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BRAND: For example, Uber gleefully battles local governments in other countries, famously campaigning against New York Mayor Bill de Blasio’s efforts to cap the service in 2015. But it has steered clear of local politics in China, a red line for the Chinese government. Uber also decided to go local very early on. Duncan Clark, chairman of BDA, the technology consulting company in Beijing, credits Uber with shrewdly bringing in a number of local partners as investors in Uber China, which was registered as a Chinese company and hired Chinese leadership.
ECOMMERCE: Acquiring RJMetrics is the first of many moves Magento, which became an independent company in November, aims to make to bolster the technology it offers retailers, Lavelle says. “The blending of our platforms will open up a world of possibilities for our customers to define the future of commerce analytics,” says Robert Moore, RJMetrics’ CEO. 294 retailers in the Top 1000 use Magento’s e-commerce platform and two use RJMetrics, according to Internet Retailer’s Top500Guide.com.
BRAND: Offering online ordering is a sign of the times for Trek, Gnewuch says. “We are giving consumers options to shop the way they want to shop,” but the company’s focus is still on selling through its retailers in the U.S. Trek declined to disclose online sales figures but says e-commerce is a small portion of its business. Direct-to-consumer sales of high-end bikes is more common in European countries and accepted by both buyers and retailers, says Eric Bjorling, Trek’s brand communications director. U.S. retailers are more sensitive to competition from manufacturers, however.
ECOMMERCE: The Ovis report sees an "increasingly fragmented physical footprint," with branded products moving to the internet. "Demand for large-footprint physical retail space will continue to fall," says the report. "Physical retail will still exist, but it will need a good reason to exist." according to Dunkin’ Brands quoted in the Ovis report. The report portends that most new retail businesses will start online and later add some physical retail for showcasing products. They note that this is already the case in furniture.
ECOMMERCE: Successful eCommerce is about more than just delivery, however. It’s about the shopping experience itself and the ease with which we can find and buy items. The better the experience, the more people will buy. A glance at the U.S. numbers would seem to suggest that things are going exceedingly well. According to eMarketer, online shoppers dropped a whopping $340 billion in 2015. It sounds impressive until you turn the page and see the total for all U.S. retail sales was $4.785 trillion.
MEDIA: Yext, whose software helps businesses manage digital location data, has been working with Snapchat to make that process easier. The New York-based startup on Thursday is unveiling a new feature that lets clients give Snapchat all that information with a few taps. "Some people are saying Snapchat is the new TV -- that's how much time people are spending in it," said Yext Chief Executive Officer Howard Lerman
DATA: According to McKinsey research, at the end of 2015, 146 private Tech companies were valued at ‘unicorn’ status–(a private valuation of $1 billion or more). Clearly, the private market for Tech companies is skyrocketing; in fact, Tech investors laid down $76 billion in investments in 2015 vs. $26 billion in 2013. There are many reasons as to why the private market is growing, valuing more and more companies upwards of $1 billion through late-stage investment rounds (justifiably or not).
BRAND: As the automotive and digital realms continue to merge, one of the titans of the traditional car world, Mercedes-Benz, is becoming more like Tesla, one of the new tech titans of mobility. One of them is promising, while the other has challenged the Mercedes-Benz brand. This week, Mercedes-Benz pulled an ad for the redesigned E-Class Sedan after a coalition of auto-safety organizations called on the US government to investigate a new ad. Their complaint claimed the spot misleads consumers by overstating the capabilities of automated-driving systems available on the sedan.
BRAND: Not only will Michigan be wearing the logo of a basketball player on a football uniform this season. But the Wolverines will also be wearing "Jumpman" branded football cleats. In accordance with Michigan's $173.8 million Nike contract, all visible football apparel worn by players must be Jordan Brand attire. And, yes, that means cleats, too. On Monday -- with Michigan's contract official -- a few players began showing off their new footwear.
BRAND: In his new role, Palladini will be in charge of Vans’ global strategy and lead its regional teams in developing local strategies to continue driving worldwide growth, according to the brand. He will also oversee global marketing and product, and is responsible for sales in the Americas. “Vans immediately became a part of my life when I moved to California at age 6 and bought my first skateboard. … Now, in my 13th year as a Vans employee, to be in a position to lead this brand is a tremendous honor,” Paladin said.
RETAIL: We define the in-store tech category as startups bringing traditional digital features to the in-store retail experience. These include connected sensors that track store foot traffic, digital and AR/VR-powered in-store advertising, beacons for proximity marketing, in-store point-of-sale software, and more. While some of these startups, such as real-time analytics dashboards, do pull in data from e-commerce channels, all the companies on our list have significant in-store use cases.
LOGISTICS: Over the past few years, a diverse group of startups have cropped up within the shipping and logistics industry, applying technology and new on-demand economy concepts to lower costs, increase flexibility, and streamline operations. Many of these new entrants are pinpointing services traditionally delivered by industry giants such as FedEx and UPS. On-demand names such as Uber and Postmates are widely known and have attracted impressive amounts of funding.


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Printed circuit board manufacturers say that Apple has not told them to postpone production, as previously reported, and therefore the 5G iPhone is not expected to be delayed.
According to Digitimes, Taiwanese manufacturers of printed circuit boards (PCBs) for the iPhone have denied reports of delays. Specifically, they say that Apple has not asked them to postpone production.
The claim had been that they were asked to postpone by two months, in order to fit with a delayed iPhone launch. Unnamed industry sources told Digitimes that they have received no request nor any notification about production being delayed.
Digitimes, though, does also note that multiple manufacturers are facing uncertain demand because of the impact of the coronavirus outbreak, plus difficulties in recruiting staff for their production lines.
Prior reports said that Apple was considering such a delay in part because of problems completing work on the "iPhone 12" prototype by March. However, analyst Gene Munster has countered this with a reminder to investors that a new iPhone is built over three or four years, not one.
"That implies that by the end of March in a given year, the vast majority of work on an iPhone design and planning with the supply chain is already done," he said.
Digitimes has a significant track record from its sources within the supply industry, although it then has a substantially weaker success rate in interpreting the information it gets. In this case, though, the suppliers are talking specifics about manufacturing lines rather than hinting at particular components or features.


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Monday, January 10, 2011
Bye-Bye Blues Club; Say 'Ciao' To Chow's
By Rivkela Brodsky
Of the Journal
Signs of retail life have returned to the northwest corner of Carlisle and Central NE.
After sitting empty for several years, the former Club Rhythm and Blues at 3523 Central NE is under construction to become another Chow's Asian Bistro.
"We're completely renovating that space," said Jason Zeng, co-owner of the new location. "It's an eyesore right now."
The Zeng family is spending $500,000 to give the 2,500-square-foot space a whole new look. When they are done with it, the building will have a new roof, new piping, new electrical wiring, two patios, a fire pit and an additional 400 square feet to fit it all.
Set to open in May, the restaurant entrance will be on Central, have its own parking lot to the west of the building and feature a larger kitchen than the other Chow's locations. It will also feature solar panels on the roof, Zeng said.
He also said the eatery will also have a different concept from the other locations, but declined to explain. There's no need to worry though. Zeng said you will be able to find all your Chow's menu favorites at the new location as well as some new dishes.
Zeng, who owns the location with his father Richard Zeng, said he had been wanting to open a location in Nob Hill for the past three years.
"I like Nob Hill," he said. "I just always did."
The building has quite a history, starting as a gas station in the 1930s and later becoming an Indian restaurant, which gave the building its distinctive decorative tower. The city would not let the family take down the tower because of its iconic presence, Zeng said, so they plan on putting chop sticks on top of it.
The building opened in the 1990s as Club Rhythm and Blues, operating successfully until it closed in 2004. The building sat empty for years after that before Zeng saw something in it.
He said the space may be a ugly on the outside, but "when I went inside it had good bones."
This will be the second Albuquerque location for the locally owned Chinese restaurant and the third in the state. The Zeng family opened a Chow's in Santa Fe in 1994 and another Northeast Heights location in 1999. A location at Cottonwood Mall opened in 2005.
The Heights location closed in 2009 and is now operating as Asian Cafe.
Hours at the Cottonwood location are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Sunday. Call the Cottonwood location at 899-6889.
Call the Santa Fe location at 505-471-7120. or for more, visit www.mychows.com.
Rooms is back
Rooms has made its return to the retail scene in Albuquerque.
After a seven-year hiatus, the store has reopened in a smaller location near Lomas and Carlisle NE on Dec. 1.
It sells furniture, home accessories and gifts in 625 square feet at 621 Amherst NE. Owner Ann Kerns ran a similar store in 2,300 square feet in the Northeast Heights for 11 years before closing it seven years ago.
Why get back in the business?
"I got bored," she told the Journal. "I thought this little place is so manageable and I love it down here. I think Albuquerque needs more small stores."
When the Journal took a tour of the space earlier this month, there were peacock pillows, watch clocks, an old Corona typewriter, leather chairs, framed maps, vases, charms, jewelry and more. Prices range from $12 for a charm to $1,400 for leather chairs.
Keep in mind that merchandise will often change, Kerns said.
"I think we'll have something for everybody," she said.
Hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call the shop at 266-6022.
Museum cafe closes
Don't count on any eats at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science.
The M Cafe, which has been at the museum serving breakfast, lunch and dessert since April 2007, closed last month, breaking its contract with the museum's foundation, said Jotina Trussell, foundation president and CEO.
"I was very sorry to see them go," she said. "Their contract was for five years, but you know how the economy has been."
Chuck Parlapiano, who owned the cafe with his wife Christina, said attendance at the museum "has slowed down considerably in the last couple of years."
Parlapiano said the couple is looking to open a similar concept in another location, but nothing is set yet.
Trussell said the foundation is looking to bring in another eatery to the museum, but the foundation board has yet to make any decisions. She expects there will be another vendor at the museum in late spring. Proceeds from the cafe are shared with the foundation and the museum, she said.
Look here for updates.
New Pilates studio
Momentum Studio, which has offered Pilates and Gyrotonic classes in the Northeast Heights for seven years, has opened a second location in the Nob Hill area.
The 1,770-square-foot studio opened Wednesday at 3001 Monte Vista NE. The location will offer group and private classes in Pilates, Gyrotonic and Feldenkrais, according to a news release announcing the opening.
Owners Bryan and Aline Alexander purchased Momentum Studios seven years ago and opened a Heights location at 10900 Menaul NE Suite J. That studio has grown to 4,000 square feet over the years.
To attend a class, you must call the location to make an appointment or reservation. Call the Heights location at 296-4080 and the Nob Hill location at 256-1144. Visit the studio online at www.momentumstudio.com.
Send me morsels of retail and restaurant news by phone at 823-3820 or e-mail at firstname.lastname@example.org.


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“Womenz Straight Talk” is health, business, and lifestyles television show hosted by Cassandra A. Tindal.
NJ On Air is NJ’s 1st streaming TV channel, created by D’Ambra Media. Our vision is to become the destination for live and local New Jersey television programming
There’s a new show on NJ on Air, New Jersey’s streaming TV channel! Jersey Vines takes us to visit wineries across the Garden State.
New Jersey’s destination for lifestyle programming, Hip New Jersey, is now available on the Garden State’s streaming TV channel, NJ on Air.
D’Ambra Media is happy to announce the NJ on Air iOS app is now available in the Apple iOS app store.


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Does a buyer hold rights to know whether the vehicle offered for purchase was formerly a ride sharing vehicle attached with any app based company like Uber? The vehicles attached under ride sharing company do not stand to inform the buyers that the car has been used as a taxi by thousands of people. However cars from other rental services, taxi companies and police services has to inform the same to the buyer when they are planning to sell it. Companies like Uber has regulations that is in favor of the driver partners where in they don’t have to tell the dealer or the buyer that they have attached the cab with them. “Uber drivers are under no legal compulsion to volunteer that information when trading in their car,” Warren Barnard, executive director of the Used Car Dealers Association of Ontario (UCDA) said in an e-mail press release.Sometimes it looks un-ethical to not to disclose the information to the buyer, but as there is no rules stating so, not many drivers would be sharing the information even when asked for. Few countries have a list of disclosures to be made by the dealer or owner while selling their used cars which doesn’t include Uber so far.
Under the act, Ontario’s Motor Vehicle Dealer’s Act (MVDA), dealers have to tell the buyer in the contract that if the car was used as a taxi, police or emergency vehicle or as a daily rental.
“The Uber service is an example of the emerging sharing economy and is not specifically covered in the current motor vehicle sales regulatory framework,” said Harry Malhi, a ministry of government and consumer services spokesman. He also adds that a dealer is also obligated to disclose any facts that could be expected to influence the decision of a reasonable buyer but not this. But a private sale doesn’t need any disclosure like that of the registered auto dealers has to do. “From a vehicle registration perspective, car owners do not have to disclose that their vehicle was used for carpooling, ride-sourcing, rental, taxi or police services at the time of sale,” said Ontario ministry of transportation (MTO) spokesman Bob Nichols in an e-mail.
Vehicle Record Package
Sellers have to also always give the buyer a Used Vehicle Information Package who’s content varies from each country to country. In Ontario the package contains the car’s owner name which may give the buyer an idea on how it was used but not necessarily whether the vehicle was used for taxi, Uber, rental or police services. In Canada it is the same set of rules and regulations being followed. But in Quebec the record would tell the buyer whether the vehicle was a taxi or not, atleast. Like it happens for other taxi companies the Uber vehicles also bring down the market value of the car as well the condition of the vehicle is also brought down and so the consumer’s exposure to a claim in damages would be theoretical for now. In near future there might be a regulation where the owner has to disclose the ride sharing service to the dealer and buyer.
When Uber was contacted about the same there was no response. But Ontario’s consumer services ministry when questioned whether there is any plan to add Uber to the list of disclosures we received an answer stating that they are continually monitoring the vehicle sales sector and assess emerging issues which will be considered the next time the Motor Vehicle Dealers Act and Regulations are revised.
The same problem is there for the vehicles being used for personnel as well as commercial purposes like delivering retail products etc, which is also a service being offered by the company Uber itself in some parts of the world. As of now, there is no way to prove whether the car being sold was used for commercial purposes or not, unless until the owner himself comes forward and gives the confession. But in real how many drivers would be ready to admit that they have delivered hundreds of products or thousands of people have travelled along in the back seat and depreciate their car value themselves which in turn might affect the resale value.
Other problems across other countries
The Philadelphia Parking Authority has started to treat UberX and Lyft as illegal car services, according to a statement from the agency released recently. “The PPA is providing 48 hour notice that it will resume enforcement against illegal TNC [transportation network company] service in Philadelphia,” a statement from Corinne O’Connor, the PPA’s deputy executive director, stated.
The move comes four days after the General Assembly’s temporary authorization of ride-sharing companies expired stating that the market has changed drastically and hence the taxicab under such companies has to be regulated in a revised manner. The taxicab industry, meanwhile, hailed relaxed regulations as a needed step to create parity between the traditional industry and the high-tech newcomers. When many countries have failed to support the protest of the traditional cab drivers, Philadelphia has done something favor of their own cab drivers, giving some sort of relief to the drivers. Both Uber and Lyft, the major ride-hailing app companies operating in the city, said the announcement highlighted the need for guidance from the state legislature. Uber stated it would continue providing service in the city despite the PPA’s decision.
The PPA statement did not say how the authority is planning to enforce restrictions against ride-hailing app businesses. Ride-hailing apps operate legally throughout the rest of Pennsylvania under a separate authorization from the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission that again expires at the end of the year after which similar problem may arise for the company everywhere.


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While we await the National Retail Federation’s holiday retail forecast – which will come any day – Deloitte and Forrester are out with their predictions for holiday 2020 and year-end.
Big Four accounting firm Deloitte has a “glass half full” view, expecting a rise in holiday retail sales between 1% to 1.5%. On the other hand, market research firm Forrester looks and sees the glass half empty, with retail sales declining 2.5% for the full year.
Despite their differing forecasts, both firms are firm about one thing: This will be the year when online shopping explodes.Online growth off the charts
Forrester sees online retail growing 18.5% this year, so that it will reach 20.2% overall penetration in North America.
Online sales for retailers in popular gifting categories will get a boost this season, with health and beauty up 23%, consumer electronics rising 20%, fashion up 19% and home furnishings growing 16% by year’s end.
On the flip side, in-store retail performance in these categories will tank – health and beauty offline sales down 8.2%, home furnishings off 15.2%, consumer electronics down 26.3% and in-store fashion sales off by 33.7%.


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Posted Mon Sep 28, 2015 at 10:10 AM PDT by Brian Hoss
$399.99 from certain retailers.
Microsoft is promising a whole slew of new Xbox One bundles, the first of which includes 'Rise of the Tomb Raider.' To be clear, the Xbox One Rise of the Tomb Raider Bundle includes a 1TB Xbox One console (of the conventional black coloring) with the new Xbox One wireless controller (again black), a digital copy of 'Rise of the Tomb Raider,' the Tactical Survival Kit, which includes a new in-game outfit and weapon skin, and finally, the 2013 Xbox One version of 'Tomb Raider' (also digital).
You can find the latest info on 'Rise of the Tomb Raider' linked from our Video Game Release Schedule.
Source: Xbox Wire
The latest news on all things 4K Ultra HD, blu-ray and Gear.


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YouTube is planning to introduce a paid monthly subscription that would allow customers to watch videos without ads, according to an email that the company recently sent to video creators.
The Google-owned video platform will share revenue from subscriptions with YouTube partners, as the company refers to video makers. In the email, YouTube pitched the paid offering as a "new source of revenue that will supplement your fast growing advertising revenue." The company suggested that it will launch subscriptions later this year.
Citing "sources familiar with the matter," The Verge reports that YouTube will charge "around $10 a month" for the subscription. In addition to ad-free viewing, YouTube's paid plan will reportedly allow subscribers to store videos on mobile devices for offline playback. Last November, the company launched an invite-only beta of YouTube Music Key, which offers ad-free streaming of music and music videos.
YouTube will give 55 percent of subscription revenue to groups of partners, according to The Verge, with individual partners receiving cuts of that total depending on their channel's viewership. Sources told The Verge that YouTube will require creators to participate in the subscription plan, lest all their videos be set to private. This could upset video makers, who are already feeling the squeeze from companies like Nintendo that are taking their own cut of ad revenue on videos produced by YouTubers.


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First Derm, a free iOS and Android teledermatology app that lets patients receive an opinion on any skin ailment from board-certified dermatologists in just 24 hours, has reached an epic app store milestone.
According to a statement provided to mHealthWatch, the app has now reached 100,000 downloads.
First Derm has been extensively researched as a dermatology triage tool. Users anonymously upload two photos, one up close and one overview, along with a description of the skin concern without requiring registration or profile creation.
The app makers say that approximately 70 percent of First Derm’s submitted cases “benefit from over-the-counter treatment if needed, resulting in an effective triage service that saves users time and money in unnecessary medical expenses and unnecessary doctor’s office visits.”
“We’ve empowered the consumer to take a proactive step towards good health, starting with the body’s largest organ, the skin,” says Dr. Alexander Börve, the app’s creator. “As a mobile health CEO, I value the user’s safety and privacy, so each submission is anonymous and clearly provides an informational assessment. First Derm isn’t a substitute for the doctor’s visit, it’s a tool that aids users in progressing along the right timeline for treatment.”


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Chinese E-commerce giants Alibaba had joined its child firm Paytm in order to pick up a stake in Bangalore-based online grocer BigBasket. According to reports, Alibaba and Paytm were about to invest $200 Mn for a substantial stake.
Alibaba owns over 50% stake in Paytm Mall and has been focussing on investments in grocery and physical retail investments across the globe.
The report also said BigBasket is seeking a pre-money valuation of around $550 million while Alibaba, along with Paytm Mall, is looking to invest $200 million in BigBasket at a valuation of nearly $900 million posts the investment. The due diligence for the deal has already started.
Apart from this investment, BigBasket has raised Rs.45 Crores in venture debt financing from Trifecta Capital to meet capital expenditure requirements, in March ending.
Meanwhile, Fosun’s venture capital arm Kinzon Capital is in discussions with BigBasket for co-investment in the ongoing funding round with a cheque of $20-30 million. “It is for the founders to decide who they would like to go with,” ET quoted sources as saying.
BigBasket founder Hari Menon said the report is “completely untrue.” Alibaba and Temasek did not respond to queries from VCCircle. Fosun dint replied to any emails though.
Apart from Alibaba, Amazon is also concentrating on the online grocery market in India. The company is likely to begin directly selling groceries and other food products online after recently securing the government’s approval for its proposed $500-million foreign direct investment in the business. Read ,more about Indian Startup Ecosystem.


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What pressure of Kratom should I take for depression? Marijuana’s status as a “safe” drug, and one which an increasing number of states are legalizing for small-scale recreational use, signifies that many young individuals try it – as many as a third of college-age folks report using it up to now 12 months. Almost one-third said they’d used illicit substances inside the previous 90 days; 38 p.c of those used synthetic marijuana, twice as many as had used regular marijuana. For comparability, beer sales are literally declining. But as the authorized marijuana industry booms, well-heeled corporations and buyers try to corner the market. The body produces enzymes that in a short time break down these endocannabinoids. Much in the way endorphins (which happen within the physique) mimic morphine and heroine, which are each opiates derived from plant matter, the endocannabinoids mimic THC. Greater than three-quarters of customers reported utilizing it for much longer than supposed (i.e., planning to take only a few puffs after work, however then smoking it for hours). Yes and no. My very own research means that a local, sustainable and artisanal model of marijuana production can co-exist with Big Marijuana – a lot as craft beer has thrived in recent years alongside the traditional macro breweries.
For now, the corporate’s model rests on acquiring real property and securing offers with marijuana retailers prepared to operate their business underneath the Diego Pellicer name. Marguerite, who asked that her full identify not be used because of the stigma associated with marijuana use disorder. THC is permitted by the FDA in a capsule to be taken orally to deal with nausea and vomiting related to most cancers chemotherapy and to stimulate appetite in AIDS patients. Early pot use amongst adolescents has been associated with poor school performance, higher dropout rates, unemployment, poor life satisfaction and an overall lack of motivation, he added. All these businesses produce the best quality goods that may present you with an distinctive increased degree of satisfaction. When compared with THC and artificial cannabinoids, endogenous cannabinoids differ in chemical structure – however they produce very comparable effects. He compared pot to insulin, a therapy for diabetes tested in massive-scale research research earlier than it turned obtainable to patients. For the primary time, the share of students in all three grades mixed who say they smoked in the past month is below 10 p.c (9.6 p.c) in comparison with 16.7 p.c 10 years in the past and 24.7 p.c in 1993. Daily smoking of cigarettes is now at 8.5 p.c for 12th-graders, 4.Four percent for tenth-graders, and 1.Eight p.c for eighth-graders.
8.5 billion in 2017, up 31 p.c from the earlier yr. Youthful adults most strongly supported this line of reasoning: Sixty five % of these aged 18 to 34 versus 54 percent of those aged 35 to 44, and about forty five p.c of those aged fifty five and older. In addition, greater than 6 percent say they get it with their own prescription. But producers of the drug keep synthesizing new compounds to try to get round those bans. Terri L. Randall, medical director of children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s Substance Use Disorder Clinic, stated it has develop into extra widespread for young patients to expertise bad reactions like extreme anxiety and even detachment from reality from cannabis use-and continue utilizing. She started smoking marijuana early in high school. Eventually she started attempting different medication, too, including LSD. Walker mentioned there are many the explanation why somebody would turn into dependent on alcohol or drugs, however troopers face added stressors. Patents are seen as another means a few giant companies could come to seize the pot trade. 2-AG will be discovered within the central nervous system at a excessive concentration.
It was the one substance that troopers believed they used more than civilians, which helps the concept synthetic marijuana is especially engaging to military personnel, the researchers stated. While the researchers did not additionally look on the volunteers’ responses to marijuana-associated cues, different research has proven that the brains of people who use a high-inducing drug repeatedly often respond extra strongly after they’re shown cues associated to that drug. Especially regarding to medical and treatment suppliers is what right now’s more and more potent strains may be doing to younger, creating brains. We do not know how it effects the brains and our bodies of juveniles. Our our bodies also have marijuana-like receptors referred to as cannabinoid receptors. Our aim is to see if we will produce a medicine that’s focused toward this naturally occurring marijuana-like system. It might produce issues when it comes to studying and memory. While it is useful for some folks, there are others who can get into trouble with it when it comes to dependency. Among those that do not support marijuana for recreational use, somewhat more than two in three believe legalization would permit marijuana to get into the improper palms. If fact be instructed, most individuals can get the exact CBD products of which manufacturers inside varieties they can take in usually inside of an finest measure.


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Date: January 31, 2024. — Singapore-based Sooorya EV has revealed the styling for its upcoming passenger fleet EV, which is designed to suit the needs of the ride-sharing economy in developing countries. The company has been working on the project since 2017 and plans to launch its prototype in India by the end of 2024. The Sooorya EV is an 8-seater electric taxi that features a unique vehicle architecture of fixed batteries, swappable batteries, and a solar roof.
The company says that this combination will decrease charging downtime and increase vehicle economy. The EV will also include a built-in gadget for app, GPS, and WiFi access, individual seats with seat sensors, USB charging, and a panic button, air conditioning, UV light sterilizing, and adjustable seating to enable wheelchairs, luggage, pets, food deliveries, and so on.
The company claims that the EV is economical, comfortable, and environmentally friendly. It also intends to target the rising market for shared mobility services, expected to exceed $379 billion by 2027. Micro-factories near consumer markets should construct the EV. This done in order to streamline logistics and supply chains. Moreover, the company plans to combine circular economic principles and sustainability into its design and business model.
Christie Fernandez, the founder and CEO of Sooorya EV, said, “We have already spent over 5 years of concentrated effort in product development. Now, we have everything in place to get into production.” He added, “SOOORYA is redefining the design, manufacture, sale, and operation of automobiles. The company has a strong focus on sustainability, profitability, and societal impact.”


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Kotaku received an anonymous tip yesterday about long time GameSpot reviewer Jeff Gerstmann being fired because of a low score he gave to Kane & Lynch: Dead Men. The more interesting and disturbing part is that GameSpot was apparently under pressure from Eidos Interactive, the publisher of the game.
GameSpot has been littered with Kane & Lynch ads recently and Eidos threatened to pull the plug, meaning a loss of revenue for CNET-owned GameSpot. Despite the Kotaku tipster specifying that it wasn’t necessarily the low score of 6 out of 10 but the ‘tone’ of the review that got the man fired, the day when advertisers will be able to get reviewers fired and set the tone of reviews by waving a stack of cash at your face is a sad day indeed.
Surprisingly, there are no Kane & Lynch ads on GameSpot at the time of writing, instead the site is displaying ads for Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed. Did Eidos pull the advertising anyway or is GameSpot trying to save face ? (Update below)
Shacknews has also confidently confirmed from their end that Gerstmann has indeed been fired from his position (update below). And former GameSpot editor and current MP3.com – also CNET-owned – employee Tim Tracy has posted what seems to be a farewell notice on his GameSpot blog. It’s unknown if it’s related to the Gerstmann axing.
My gut tells me this isn’t the last we’ve heard of this, so we’ll keep you updated when new information surfaces. But with this fiasco going on, makes you wonder how the industry will receive Kane & Lynch 2, which is already in production. Because when (and if) it releases, references to this incident will no doubt be made.
Update: Jeff Gerstmann has since confirmed himself that he has indeed been let go. He’s “not really able to comment on the specifics” but is “looking forward to getting back out there and figuring out what’s next.” In the meanwhile huge forum topics have grown in the GameSpot forums, especially this one with over 4800 posts. The official Eidos forums got a similar treatment but after shutting it down for a while, the admins are now locking any thread discussing this topic at first sight, calling it a rumor and saying “there will be no further discussion.”
Penny Arcade writes that they’re being told the advertisements that Eidos was displaying on GameSpot were worth hundreds of thousands of dollars and that they’ve now pulled hundreds of thousands worth of future advertising from the site.


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ATMANIRBHAR APP ECOSYSTEM
EV leasing picks up in India; women flock online to learn tech skills
Leasing vehicles has never been big business in India, but in the nascent electric vehicle market, many companies are betting big that it will be a game-changer.
Easing market entry, only a first step towards MSME entrepreneurship simulation
While the ease in the registration process is welcomed by bot...
Social media stalemate
In today's ETtech Morning Dispatch: Govt appears to be at an impasse with Facebook, WhatsApp, Google and Twitter over ...
Homegrown startups group may move CCI to stall Google's 15% levy
The Atmanirbhar Digital India Foundation (AIDF), which is alleging that Indian startups lack a level playing field, has also written to the government on the issue and is awaiting a response from the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY).
Technology is going to play a key role in India's roadmap for health infrastructure: ETILC members
The use of technology to gather and make data more accessible and usable is one of the biggest changes in the Indian healthcare system. We’ve incorporated wearable devices and digital apps that directly upload data to secure cloud platforms so that patients in clinical trials can participate from home rather than traveling to study sites.
Koo app severs China links, Nazara IPO begins
In today's ETtech Evening Briefing, Twitter rival Koo app severs China links; Nazara IPO gets subscribed 3.8 times on Day 1 of offering; and Startups can now tap profident fund (PF) money for funding.
Google halves Play store commission fee for developers
Startups continue to see ‘high’ commission an abuse of Play Store’s dominant position
Made in India apps woo users amid self-reliance push
Homegrown apps have always found it challenging to scale up user base. But there is a chance for a breakthrough, thanks to the ban on Chinese apps and 'push for self-reliance'
Koo and the quest for an Atmanirbhar social network
Several Union ministers, their ministries and related departments have flocked to the app — which uses a yellow bird as its logo, against Twitter’s blue.
How connected agri-value chains can pave way for an Atmanirbhar farming sector
The priority of a self-reliant India should be a self-reliant farming sector. Connecting all stakeholders within the agri value chain would be a step towards the goal of making India agriculturally self-reliant.
Startups form new body to protect 'freedom of choice'
The move comes amid growing concerns among the domestic startup ecosystem around alleged monopoly risks posed by Big Tech companies.
Atmanirbhar apps: Indian short-video app Mitron TV launches new discovery platform
The platform said with the launch of Atmanirbhar Apps, it wants to urge people to become ‘vocal for local’ and to bring the spotlight on the Indian apps from various geographies.
Assam government launches mobile app, Kisan Rath, to promote buyer-seller network
Initially launched by the Government of India, the app has been customized by National Informatics Centre (NIC) Assam to suit the requirements of the state. The app also enables farmers to take advantage of all relevant schemes and opens up the national market outside the state for surplus products
Startup founders bat for an Indian app store
The founders, including Paytm's Vijay Shekhar Sharma, Yashish Dahiya of Policybazaar and Murugavel Janakiraman of Matrimony.com, plan to also approach the country's banking regulator as well as the finance ministry.
Vocal for local: Govt plans to revise definition of Indian app companies
New terms may include cos with local IP rights, most of the staff in India; industry wants foreign funding criteria out
Ravi Shankar Prasad on Apple, Samsung & making India a manufacturing hub
‘In spite of the Corona uncertainties, big manufacturers have trusted the India story.’
Not just the Chinese, govt should look into all global apps: Kavin Mittal, Hike founder
"This ban on Chinese applications and promoting the ‘atmanirbhar’ mentality, I think is a great step forward for India's interest. And my question is, you know, if we truly want to do that, let’s look at applying the same guidelines for security in national interest to all apps across the globe," he said.
PM Modi pitches for Atmanirbhar App ecosystem, says IT is tackling disruption brought about by COVID-19
The prime minister has launched the “Aatmanirbhar Bharat Innovation Challenge" to identify the best Indian apps that are already being used by citizens and have the potential to scale and become world class apps in their respective categories, an official statement said.
A challenge for app companies to build Chinese rivals
The new challenge will look at local apps that can potentially replace banned Chinese apps such as TikTok, CamScanner, WeTransfer and UC Browser. According to a top government official, Minister for Electronics and IT, Ravi Shankar Prasad, directed the ministry to initiate the grand challenge on Wednesday and work on the proposal has already started.


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Ride the Lightning
Cybersecurity and Future of Law Practice Blog
by Sharon D. Nelson Esq., President of Sensei Enterprises, Inc.
Utah’s ‘Business Friendly’ Privacy Act Signed
April 19, 2022
CPO Magazine reported on April 13 that a consumer privacy act has been signed into law in Utah and takes effect on December 31, 2023, the fourth state privacy bill to be passed. While it compares in some terms to the prior bills passed in California, Virginia and Colorado, the Utah bill is the most business-friendly.
The Utah privacy act does not contain a private right of action nor does it apply to government or non-profit agencies. Health care organizations already subject to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and finance organizations already subject to Title V of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act are also exempted, as are any health records already subject to HIPAA rules.
Given the initial threshold of at least $25 million in annual revenue, the Utah Consumer Privacy Act will probably apply to well under 1% of the state’s businesses and will mostly apply to international or nation-spanning firms. In addition to bringing in more annual revenue than most companies in the state ever reach, affected organizations must either handle the personal data of at least 100,000 people, or derive over 50% of their revenue from the sale of personal data and actively process the personal data of at least 25,000 customers.
Other business-friendly terms of the privacy act that are not found in the legislation of other states include a complete lack of data protection assessment requirements and an automatic 30-day window granted to companies to address violations before the attorney general’s office can bring an enforcement action.
Though there is bipartisan interest in getting a federal privacy bill passed, the issue seems to keep getting sidelined. As the federal government is dragging its feet, individual states have begun to take the matter into their own hands. The Utah privacy act demonstrates how much difference there can be from state to state.
Though the bill is the most business-friendly of the four that have become law, it does share some consumer protections with its predecessors. Companies that are covered by its terms will have to allow consumers to opt out of personal data collection and use, provide access to and the right to request deletion of certain data, be transparent about data collection and use, and require certain data safeguards. Consumers will be able to bring complaints about data processing violations to the Division of Consumer Protection.
Fines may be up to $7,500 per violation of the privacy act. These funds are to be directed to the state Consumer Privacy Account, which is used for consumer education and conducting enforcement actions.
State lawmakers have said that the privacy act is to be considered a “starting point” and that future amendments are possible that may not be as business-friendly. The Utah attorney general and the Division of Consumer Protection will be required to keep track of the effectiveness of the law and file a report by the beginning of July 2025.
Sharon D. Nelson, Esq., President, Sensei Enterprises, Inc.
3975 University Drive, Suite 225, Fairfax, VA 22030
Email: Phone: 703-359-0700
Digital Forensics/Cybersecurity/Information Technology


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The COVID-19 pandemic saw gaming communities surge thanks to a consumer need for engagement, community, and stress-relieving escapism. Looking to gaming as a source of inspiration keeps beauty brands connected to a dynamic area of pop culture, where technology, play, and social media converge. In particular, games like Animal Crossing excelled during the pandemic, with a combination of innocent, world-building role play and friendly, pastel aesthetics that fulfilled a consumer desire for a cheerful outlet.
Several brands, from Tatcha to Gillette to Givenchy, partnered with the popular game within its digital universe, while Colourpop recently brought the world to life via a new makeup palette featuring colors, characters, and designs from the game. In addition to Animal Crossing, fellow role playing games The Sims and Fortnite also saw beauty brand collaborations, with Mac partnering with The Sims for a digital-avatar themed palette. E.l.f. Cosmetics recently partnered with gaming streamer Kathleen Belsten on Twitch, taking advantage of a massive, untapped market of Gen-Z female gamers.
Going beyond makeup collections, tech brands are joining forces to create innovative gaming kits that are suitable for underserved communities, such as adaptive gaming kits for the disabled. Lastly, tech advancements like L’Oreal’s interactive, gamified lenses, or playable, live-chat formats like Twitch, have helped beauty brands interact and engage with their consumers on a meaningful level, creating authentic connections that influence the competitive digital landscape.
More on Fashion Snoops


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Power Rangers: Battle for the Grid players get three new characters, four new arenas, and a story mode.
Power Rangers: Battle for the Grid's first update will add three new characters to the game.
Upcoming Power Rangers fighting game Power Rangers: Battle for the Grid will arrive on Xbox One, PS4, and Switch later this month.
Ranger Slayer, Goldar, Magna Defender, and more join the Power Rangers: Battle for the Grid roster.
You'll soon be able to play Fortnite Battle Royale as a board game and in real life with your friends.
How has Harmonix's DropMix held up in the six months since its release? We take a look.
Harmonix and Hasbro's new collaboration is interesting—but also a hard sell.


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SSDA exhibition held at Computex Taipei 2014 was rounded off. Cooperation with SD Association brought the synergistic effects of key factors both on quality and quantity. A cooperative booth has attracted more than ever visitors with a chance to get rich industry knowledge and technology from both SSDA and SDA. Meanwhile, cooperation allowed the two alliances to exchange industry insights and advanced technology, and further, to expand their networks. It’s a win-win strategy for SSDA and SDA, also for stopping by visitors who could enhance abilities of SSD and SD.
SSDA is proud to say, that over 30 solid state-of-the-art storage product samples, along with test reports and storage interface tool demo indicated the future platform development and trend of SSD. The volunteers from SSDA member companies showed their endeavors to interact with global buyers, SSD product developers, and manufacturers who were interested in SSD. More or less, it’s a great opportunity to discover any potential customers for our member companies.
For continually accumulating capabilities of storage technology, SSDA announced an upcoming technical seminar in the second half of 2014 at Computex. We sincerely welcome all of you who are interested in technical seminar and hope to see you soon.


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Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Euisun Chung, along with Governor Brian P. Kemp, and company officials, and state and local leaders, officially broke ground today on Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA) LLC’s new manufacturing plant at the Bryan County Mega site. The celebration included a morning groundbreaking on site, followed by a future technology expo at Enmarket Arena in Savannah, where the company highlighted “advanced technology and extraordinary human achievement” with a wide array of exhibits for hundreds of attendees from the community in attendance.
The $5.54 billion investment by the company and its affiliate suppliers was announced five months ago and includes plans to produce a diverse range of innovative Hyundai, Genesis and Kia electric vehicles (EVs) and a new battery manufacturing facility. HMGMA will create more than 8,100 jobs over the next few years as the company aims to establish a stable supply chain for EV battery and other EV components in the U.S. market. HMGMA’s new smart factory is expected to begin commercial production in the first half of 2025.
“Hyundai and the people of Georgia share many qualities: respect for our histories, ingenuity, creativity, and determination to make the world better for the next generation,” said Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Euisun Chung. “Today, our EVs are recognized as best in class, and with this partnership, we are determined to be the global leader in electrification, safety, quality, and sustainability. With the Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America, we will continue to evolve beyond an automaker to the world’s leading mobility solutions provider.”
“With more Georgians working than ever before, record jobs and investment coming to all parts of our state, and award-winning workforce development programs and infrastructure, the Peach State’s economy is reaching new heights,” said Governor Brian Kemp. “Our partnership with Hyundai Motor Group and the groundbreaking of this innovative facility exemplifies that unprecedented success. With a long-term commitment to improving lives and livelihoods, we look forward to continuing this partnership and seeing its impact on both this community and our state as a whole.”


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Verité Research, in collaboration with Mitsubishi Corporation, National Building Research Organization (NBRO), Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI), and ENTGRA, organized an event to formally launch AirQuality.LK. Along with the launch, the event featured the research findings of a Verité Research study that explored air quality data and its impact on public health. The study aims to raise awareness of the harmful health effects of poor air quality and demonstrate the technical aspects of air quality data collection.
The study utilized health incident data and air quality data to determine the detrimental impacts of poor air quality on public health. According to the research, maintaining good air quality could potentially reduce all-cause mortality by an estimated 1% to 6% nationwide when compared to the baseline. This highlights the need for a comprehensive policy on air quality to promote a cleaner and healthier environment for the people of Sri Lanka.
Disclaimer: Readings of some sensors are not updated due to prevailing situation (power outages and economic constraints) in Sri Lanka.


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Optical retailer National Vision (NYSE:EYE) reported Q3 FY2023 results beating Wall Street analysts' expectations, with revenue up 6.6% year on year to $532.4 million. Its full-year revenue guidance of $2.12 billion at the midpoint came in slightly above analysts' estimates. Turning to EPS, National Vision's non-GAAP profit of $0.15 per share was flat year on year.
Is now the time to buy National Vision? Find out by accessing our full research report, it's free.
National Vision (EYE) Q3 FY2023 Highlights:
- Revenue: $532.4 million vs analyst estimates of $526.7 million (1.1% beat)
- EPS (non-GAAP): $0.15 vs analyst estimates of $0.10 (49.1% beat)
- The company reconfirmed its revenue guidance for the full year of $2.12 billion at the midpoint (raised full year EPS guidance)
- Free Cash Flow of $13.21 million, up from $2.9 million in the same quarter last year
- Gross Margin (GAAP): 52.7%, down from 53.4% in the same quarter last year
- Same-Store Sales were up 3.8% year on year (beat vs. expectations)
- Store Locations: 1,402 at quarter end, increasing by 70 over the last 12 months
Reade Fahs, National Vision's CEO, said, “Our third quarter results reflect ongoing strength in our managed care business as well as continued progress on our strategic initiatives focused on expanding exam capacity, particularly within America’s Best. We delivered a solid Back to School selling season, supported by our focus on delivering incredible value while offering exceptional customer service.”
Operating under multiple brands, National Vision (NYSE:EYE) sells optical products such as eyeglasses and provides optical services such as eye exams.
Some retailers try to sell everything under the sun, while others—appropriately called Specialty Retailers—focus on selling a narrow category and aiming to be exceptional at it. Whether it’s eyeglasses, sporting goods, or beauty and cosmetics, these stores win with depth of product in their category as well as in-store expertise and guidance for shoppers who need it. E-commerce competition exists and waning retail foot traffic impacts these retailers, but the magnitude of the headwinds depends on what they sell and what extra value they provide in their stores.
National Vision is a small retailer, which sometimes brings disadvantages compared to larger competitors that benefit from economies of scale.
As you can see below, the company's annualized revenue growth rate of 5.6% over the last four years (we compare to 2019 to normalize for COVID-19 impacts) was mediocre , but to its credit, it opened new stores and expanded its reach.
This quarter, National Vision reported solid year-on-year revenue growth of 6.6% and its revenue of $532.4 million outperformed analysts' estimates by 1.1%. Looking ahead, the Wall Street analysts covering the company expect revenue to remain relatively flat over the next 12 months.
Our recent pick has been a big winner, and the stock is up more than 2,000% since the IPO a decade ago. If you didn’t buy then, you have another chance today. The business is much less risky now than it was in the years after going public. The company is a clear market leader in a huge, growing $200 billion market. Its $7 billion of revenue only scratches the surface. Its products are mission critical. Virtually no customers ever left the company. You can find it on our platform for free.
Number of Stores
When a retailer like National Vision is opening new stores, it usually means it's investing for growth because demand is greater than supply. Since last year, National Vision's store count increased by 70 locations, or 5.3%, to 1,402 total retail locations in the most recently reported quarter.
Taking a step back, the company has opened new stores quickly over the last eight quarters, averaging 5.5% annual growth in new locations. This store growth outpaces the broader consumer retail sector. With an expanding store base and demand, revenue growth can come from multiple vectors: sales from new stores, sales from e-commerce, or increased foot traffic and higher sales per customer at existing stores.
Same-store sales growth is an important metric that tracks demand for a retailer's established brick-and-mortar stores and e-commerce platform.
National Vision's demand has been shrinking over the last eight quarters, and on average, its same-store sales have declined by 1.6% year on year. This performance is quite concerning and the company should reconsider its strategy before investing its precious capital into new store buildouts.
In the latest quarter, National Vision's same-store sales rose 3.8% year on year. This growth was a well-appreciated turnaround from the 8.1% year-on-year decline it posted 12 months ago, showing the business is regaining momentum.
Key Takeaways from National Vision's Q3 Results
With a market capitalization of $1.32 billion, National Vision is among smaller companies, but its $265.8 million cash balance and positive free cash flow over the last 12 months give us confidence that it has the resources needed to pursue a high-growth business strategy.
We were impressed by how significantly National Vision blew past analysts' EPS expectations this quarter, driven by comparable store sales and revenue beats. While full year revenue guidance was maintained, operating income and EPS guidance was riased. Overall, this quarter's results seemed fairly positive and shareholders should feel optimistic. The stock is flat after reporting and currently trades at $16.84 per share.
So should you invest in National Vision right now? When making that decision, it's important to consider its valuation, business qualities, as well as what has happened in the latest quarter. We cover that in our actionable full research report which you can read here, it's free.
One way to find opportunities in the market is to watch for generational shifts in the economy. Almost every company is slowly finding itself becoming a technology company and facing cybersecurity risks and as a result, the demand for cloud-native cybersecurity is skyrocketing. This company is leading a massive technological shift in the industry and with revenue growth of 50% year on year and best-in-class SaaS metrics it should definitely be on your radar.
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The author has no position in any of the stocks mentioned in this report.


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Following the viral success of last year’s Oreo ‘Blackout’ tweet, brand social media teams will be chomping at the bit during next Sunday’s NFL Superbowl, eager to be this year’s real-time marketing sensation.
Well, they may be already too late.
Earlier today, at the annual Grammy awards, an innocuous tweet from US-based sandwich chain Arby’s became an instant viral Twitter hit. With singer Pharrell Williams appearing at the event in an oversized hat, not dissimilar to the one used Arby’s logo, the brand quickly took advantage, tweeting “Hey Pharrell, can we have our hat back”.
The response was quite breathtaking. Last year’s Oreo tweet – now the go-to case study for real-time marketing presentations – currently has 15,854 tweets. That is over a 12-month period. The Arby’s tweet at the time of writing is three hours old and had 58,000 retweets and rising. Fast.
So what has made the Arby’s tweet so popular?
Unlike the Oreo Tweet, Arby’s contribution has no clever creative execution. In this instance though, it wasn’t needed. It was a simple, throwaway line. It spoke to its audience through humour, connecting its highly-recognisable brand identity with something that was already beginning to trend on social media: Pharrell’s hat. The singer’s choice of head wear was OTT, but in a very knowing way. Arby’s simply caught the mood and rode its luck.
Does the number of retweets matter? In terms of sales, time will tell. Visibility, though, is another matter. As we saw from the Oreo example, a smart bit of social content can create a whole load of free media. In Arby’s case, on Twitter at least, the Pharrell tweet takes the brand into the stratosphere. Arby’s Twitter posts rarely break out of double figures. By the end of today, it could be in possession of a six-figure Tweet. And with Pharrell boasting 2.7 million followers on Twitter, more than ten times the number following Arby’s, that’s a lot more potentisl exposure for the sandwich chain.
Michael O’Neill is digital managing editor, Asia Pacific, at Weber Shandwick


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Less than 48 hours after its world premiere, all-new British sports car was a major draw with show-goers
Crowd control measures in place all day on Lotus stand as visitors flock to see the Emira
Central Feature sculpture brought to life with Lo...
Q%26As with lead exterior designer Daniel Durrant and lead interior design Jon Statham
Each discusses their inspiration and the challenges in creating this thrilling new Lotus sports car
Receiving its world premiere at Hethel, Norfolk, on the eveni...
Its exceptional and Im a big fan said ex-F1 champion after lapping Hethel track
Jenson was a special guest at Hethel premiere of all-new Lotus sports car
Driving Emira just felt right said the long-time Lotus fan and customer
New Civic Type R Limited Edition purest Type R to date
Just 100 Limited Edition models will be built for Europe
New Civic Type R Sport Line model combines outstanding performance with stealthier design
All 2020 Civic Type R models receive stylin...
Updated version of Kias best-selling model in the UK
Upgraded infotainment system and active driver aids
Cutting-edge EcoDynamics mild-hybrid 48-volt technology on 2.0-litre CRDi engine, priced from £32,545
Efficient new 1.6-litre U3 diesel p...
Athletic new design for Kias C-segment hatchback
Name updated ceed becomes Ceed
Designed, engineered and built in Europe
New from the ground up with latest technology
All engines meet the latest Euro-6d-Temp emissions regulations
All new quartet debut Grandland X, Insignia GSi, Country Tourer and Vivaro Tourer
Exclusive allows customers to take personalisation of their Vauxhall to the next level
VAUXHALL REVEALS ALL-NEW GRANDLAND X SUV
New SUV with a sporty design...
Star of the event, the new Pista version of the iconic Abarth 595.
It will be joined on the stand by the numbered and limited edition Abarth 695 Yamaha XSR and the Yamaha XSR900 Abarth motorbike, which springs from the partnership between Abarth an...


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US food giants pledge to halve food waste by 2030
Major food firms including PepsiCo, General Mills, Unilever and Kellogg are among the 15 US-based retail giants that have pledged to halve the amount on food waste produced within their operations by 2030.
Last week, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the US Department of Agriculture announced the first 15 members of the US’s first-ever national food waste reduction goal pledge – the US Food Loss and Waste 2030 Champions.
Under the new initiative, each 2030 Champion has agreed to mark a baseline measurement for food loss, within their operations, in today’s current market. All 15 members will report on food waste reduction progress, with an aim to halve the amount of food waste produced by 2030.
The 15 members are: Ahold USA, Blue Apron, Bon Appétit Management Company, Campbell Soup Company, Conagra Brands, Delhaize America, General Mills, Kellogg Company, PepsiCo, Sodexo, Unilever, Walmart, Wegman’s Food Markets, Weis Markets and Yum! Brands – which owns KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell.
“In support of the Sustainable Development Goals, Kellogg is committed to helping reduce food waste by 50 percent by 2030,” Kellogg’s chief sustainability officer Diane Holdorf said. “Already, Kellogg has reduced waste sent to landfill by more than 60 percent since 2005, including food waste. We remain committed to ensuring edible food waste is donated to feed people in need, when appropriate.
“We also will continue our partnerships to develop sustainable agriculture programs with smallholder farmers that help prevent post-harvest loss in major ingredients relevant to Kellogg.”
The EPA will direct each of the 15 Champions to use Food Loss and Waste Protocol, a collaborative measure that introduced the FLW Standard for quantifying and reporting on food waste within the supply chain.
Originally established in 2013, the standard looks to encourage consistency and transparency in quantifying and reporting food waste issues to reap economic benefits, enhance food security, improve natural resource efficiency and reduce environmental impacts. It was launched globally in June 2016.
“As a global food company, it’s imperative to take thoughtful action to combat food waste,” General Mills’ chief sustainability office Jerry Lynch said. “We will continue to advance our role in helping to reduce food insecurity, reduce the needless churn of the planet’s resources used to produce food that is then thrown away, and eliminating the cost from food that is ultimately wasted.
“We are committed to doing our part–socially, environmentally and financially–and we support the USDA and EPA’s continued leadership efforts to escalate the importance of food waste reduction.”
Labels and reforms
The US Department of Agriculture estimates that around 90bn pounds of food waste derives from consumers, costing each US citizen $370 annually. However, there is a lack of clarity and federal laws in the country in regards to food labels.
Prominent food waste campaigner Tristram Stuart’s environmental campaign group Feedback has been working with businesses in the US to tackle food waste.
Last week, Stuart joined fellow food waste activist Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall in calling on the UK Government to implement several food waste policies such as labelling reform, national reduction targets and the strengthened role of an independent adjudicator between supermarkets and suppliers.


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Logan’s Roadhouse, which has locations in Louisiana, has filed for bankruptcy and plans to close 18 restaurants as it restructures, according to The Wall Street Journal.
The Nashville, Tennessee-based steakhouse chain has not announced which restaurants will close. In south Louisiana, Logan’s has locations in Gonzales, Baton Rouge and Lafayette. There are none in the New Orleans area.
The publication reported that Logan’s filed for bankruptcy protection Monday after reaching a deal with its bondholders to swap more than $300 million in debt for control of the restaurant chain.
The filing comes several months after the company skipped an interest payment to bondholders. Logan’s Roadhouse’s quarterly sales have fallen in recent years and the chain has struggled to make interest payments.
Logan’s has 230 company-owned restaurants and 26 franchised locations.
According to the court filing, Keith Maib, chief restructuring officer of Logan’s parent LRI Holdings Inc., says Logan’s debt-for-equity swap deal is with private-equity firm Kelso & Co. as well as with the Blackstone Group’s GSP Capital Partners LP, one its bondholders.
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Clubhouse has exploded in popularity in recent months. Ever since then, there have been a strong demand for the iOS-exclusive app to also be available on Android. Co-founder Paul Davidson only said last month that it is currently in development. Now, we may actually have a release window for it.
One Clubhouse developer Mopewa Ogundipe posted on Twitter a screenshot of the app working from an unspecified Google Pixel device. Then in a follow-up tweet, Morgan Evetts commented that the Android version has been in development for about six weeks. That, and the projected availability of the app on the platform is in May.
Though some things will be unlikely to change after Clubhouse becomes available on Android. For one, you’ll likely still have to get an invitation to be able to use it. And then, of course, there’s the myriad of pretenders that you’ll have to filter through. Some of them are downright dangerous in addition to be fraudulent.
But on the bright side, best case scenario points at Clubhouse being available to Android users in less than a month. Of course, the actual release could be anytime from the start to the end of next month, or even later if the development process runs into any snags.


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It took longer than skeptics might’ve guessed, but Google Stadia is finally shutting down. On January 18, 2023, anyone who bought games on the streaming service will lose access to their library. To compensate people who invested in the ecosystem, Google will be giving Stadia users a full refund—quite an unprecedented move.
If you bought a game on Stadia at any point since its launch, you might have questions. Here’s how it’s all going to play out.
Why Is Google Giving Refunds?
Google has a reputation for killing products. But it doesn’t always leave users completely stranded. When Google “killed” YouTube Originals, it simply stopped producing new original content, but the old content is still there. Google is “killing” Hangouts, but users are being migrated to Google Chat. In many cases, people who used Google products that die often get migrated to something new.
Stadia is different. Stadia cost money, sometimes a lot of money. The kit that included a Chromecast Ultra and a Stadia controller cost $130. Users had to pay full price for games. There was a premium subscription for 4K streaming (which also came with a collection of games over time). It’s possible to have spent a significant amount of money on Stadia over the past three years.
Shutting down the service means taking away access to all those bought-and-paid-for games, which would go a touch beyond Google’s usual shutdown routine. It’s rare to see a company offer full refunds for years worth of purchases on a platform—Microsoft paying users for ebook purchases is the closest that comes to mind—but it’s not hard to imagine the outrage (and possible lawsuits) if Google did otherwise here.
What Will Be Refunded?
There are three big categories of services Stadia has charged for: hardware, game sales plus add-ons, and the Stadia Pro subscription. Only the first two will be eligible for refunds. Even then, only sales made through the Google Store or Stadia Store will qualify.
The Stadia Pro subscription included a rotation of free games that you could claim (similar to Xbox and PlayStation game subscription services), but these titles won’t count toward refunds. If you paid for a game in the Stadia Store—as well as any downloadable content or add-on bundles—then those will qualify.
What If I Bought Stadia Hardware in a Store?
If you bought a Stadia controller or Stadia kit at a retail store like Best Buy, unfortunately, you’re out of luck. Google will be offering refunds only for purchases made through the Google Store. There are two physical Google Stores in New York, so if you bought Stadia controllers there, you may qualify for a refund, but every other store will not.
You also can’t return your hardware to any physical store (including the physical Google Store locations); however, there’s also no reason to take any hardware to a physical store.
Do I Need to Return My Controllers?
Nope! You’ll get a refund on all the hardware you paid for, and you’ll get to keep the hardware. Well, probably. Google says that “most hardware purchases” will qualify for a refund, and specifically calls out the following packages:
- Stadia Controller
- Founders Edition
- Premiere Edition
- Play and Watch with Google TV
If you bought these kits, you’re safe. If you bought Stadia hardware some other way (again, via the Google Store), you may get a refund.
When and How Do I Get My Refund?
So far, we don’t know how refunds will roll out. Google is still working this process out, though the company may have its hands full letting developers know it has pulled the plug at the moment. We’ll update this article once Google provides more information on how to get the refund.
Google says its intent is to have “the majority” of refunds sent out by January 18, 2023 (the day Stadia shuts down). That may mean getting refunds sooner—a nice boost before the holiday season if nothing else—but the process and timing may vary by country.
Can I Keep Using Stadia in the Meantime?
Yes. The games you’ve purchased will continue working until January 18. If you were already a Stadia Pro subscriber as of September 29, you’ll stay a subscriber until the service shuts down and Google won’t charge for the subscription any further. This is a bittersweet bonus, but at least you won’t have to give Google any more money for a dying service.
However, if you didn’t buy any games or pay for the subscription, then the only way to use Stadia now is with time-limited demos. Despite teasing this feature back in 2019, Google launched playable in-browser game demos only in October of 2021, and they seem to still be working for now.
Source by www.wired.com